Health

South Korea crosses 1 million Covid-19 infections after new daily record

Seoul, Feb 6 (EFE).- South Korea crossed Sunday one million total Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, following a fresh daily record of 38,691 cases amid a rapid increase in infections caused by the spread of the Omicron variant.

Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, reported the most cases at 11,924, the capital accounted for 7,778 infections and the port city of Incheon reported 2,227 cases, according to data published by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

With Sunday’s cases, the total number of Covid-19 infections in the Asian country climbed to 1,009,688.

Infections have increased sharply on Asian territory in recent days, and daily cases crossed the 30,000 barrier for the first time on Saturday, three days after reaching 20,000 and a week after surpassing 10,000 on Jan.26.

Infections have multiplied by more than five times in the last two weeks in South Korea, where authorities believe the numbers could increase further and reach 100,000 cases a day in the coming weeks.

KDCA also reported Sunday the death of 15 people from the virus, bringing the total number of deaths from Covid-19 to 6,873, representing a 0.68 percent mortality rate in the Asian country.

So far, 28.17 million people or 54.9 percent of South Korea’s population have been administered the booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, whereas 44.11 million or 86 percent of the population have received two doses.

In an attempt to curb the spread of infections, the government has extended until Feb.20 its current prevention measures, which include a ban on private gatherings of more than six people and require shops to close at 9pm.

South Korean authorities are also expected to lower the age of people eligible to be treated with Covid-19 pills from 60 to 50 from Monday. EFE

co-mra/sc

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